West Ham to beat Chelsea

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David John (SL) thinks West Ham are a great bet to beat Chelsea on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League.


The Premier League title race continues on Saturday with Arsenal surely needing to make ground on Leicester if they're to maintain any hope of turning around an eight-point deficit.

The Gunners are in action at lunchtime as they take on Everton in what should be an entertaining game, before Leicester visit Crystal Palace.

With Spurs not in action on Saturday, Leicester will end the day eight points clear if they secure another three points. David John previews the action.
Price Boost

1pt Arsenal to beat Everton

3pts West Ham to beat Chelsea

1pt Leroy Fer to score anytime v Aston Villa

Everton v Arsenal (1245 GMT)

The pressure on these two managers lately has been extraordinary and I am of the opinion that may well have decreased considerably on Arsene Wenger and the Gunners following a tough week which has seen them dumped out of both the FA Cup and Champions League. They also have 11 points to somehow make up on Leicester at the top of the league in a title race that is clearly the most winnable for ages and realistically no longer look viable candidates. Those who predicted the same old late collapse from Arsenal will have a smug grin on their faces and a by-product of all that could now see them start to play with the freedom which deserted them on the whole in such a costly fashion over the past six weeks. The venerable Wenger era looks more than likely to end in the summer if a suitable replacement can be tempted to north London but he will continue to fight to the finishing line and I actually fancy them to win this one and at least remain in the race with a flicker of hope. Wenger's opposite number Roberto Martinez could also have his future questioned with a new investor pumping cash into Goodison if he can't iron out their rather erratic form. They contrived to blow a 2-0 lead here last time in a remarkable loss to West Ham although some of the vitriol aimed at him and his side eased a little with a convincing FA Cup success over Chelsea. The two competitions for me are like chalk and cheese in terms of mindset and Everton have looked vulnerable all season on their own patch with the form they have shown just about above relegation quality. A bet here on a rather unreliable pair is hardly one for the mortgage but I think the visitors have a chance to relax and do enough for all three points.

Verdict: Everton 1 Arsenal 2

Opta facts:

Olivier Giroud has scored five goals in his last five games in all competitions against Everton, including in each of the last three Barclays Premier League meetings.
Mesut Özil has scored two goals and assisted four more in five appearances in all competitions against the Toffees.
Everton have won just one of the last 18 matches in all competitions against the Gunners (W1 D6 L11).
Everton have won just one of their last eight Premier League games at Goodison Park (W1 D2 L5).

Chelsea v West Ham (1500)

Exactly like Arsenal, Chelsea have fluffed their lines in the two cup competitions they remained in and their exits to PSG and Everton last week are the only defeats Guus Hiddink has suffered since his return to Stamford Bridge. That means they still have an unbeaten record in the Premier League under the Dutchman to defend but rather too many draws has seen them only progress to just inside the top half of the standings and any hopes of claiming a European place next season are receding quickly. They were second best last weekend on Merseyside in a tetchy FA Cup quarter-final and you really have to question what sort of motivation the Chelsea players have left for the closing stretch of the season from a position of mid-table mediocrity. Diego Costa's loose-cannon activities finally saw him red-carded and he sits this one out which should mean a another chance for the exciting Bertrand Traore up front. He scored an absolute beauty last time against Stoke and has clearly gone up the pecking order ahead of a moderate Loic Remy and invisible Alexandre Pato. Compare the way their season is drifting off into obscurity to West Ham's annus mirabilis which has given them every chance of making the Champions League. Whatever Leicester do from now on, Claudio Ranieri is a shoo-in for manager of the year but Slaven Bilic is not far behind in my book with the way he has instilled a confidence devoid from the Hammers for so many years. His ability to affect the course of a game with tactical changes has been magnificent and in Dimitri Payet he has unearthed a very special talent indeed. Collectively, they have found a different gear and there is a tremendous buzz around the place that this could be the beginning of an exciting spell in the club's history. The layers have chalked the hosts up at odds-on and West Ham's record at Stamford Bridge is pretty lousy but it is all based on past glories and the visitors look tremendous value. They have seriously been underestimated in current mood and I think they will not only win, but do it with a degree of comfort.

Verdict: Chelsea 1 West Ham 3

Opta facts:

The Blues are unbeaten in 13 Premier League games since Jose Mourinho left (W6 D7), but have only won two at home (W2 D5).
The Hammers have lost just two of their last 16 Premier League matches (W7 D7 L2).
Diego Costa has had a hand in 12 of Chelsea's 22 Premier League goals since Guus Hiddink took charge of the club (eight goals, four assists) but will be suspended for this match.
Dimitri Payet has five goals and five assists in his last seven competitive appearances for West Ham United.